Mooring Strap

ABSTRACT

A mooring strap for vessels includes a first loop for engaging a dock mounted cleat and a second loop for engaging a cleat on a vessel. A strap extending from each of the two loops is interconnected with a cam lock to permit drawing the two loops toward one another to draw the vessel toward the dock and to secure the vessel with the dock. A sleeve attendant each loop is slid toward a loop engaged cleat to reduce the functional size of the loop and thereby prevent the loop from becoming inadvertently disengaged from the cleat. Upon release of the cam lock and drawing the sleeves away from the respective engaged cleats, the mooring strap may be disengaged from the cleats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mooring lines for vessels and, more particularly, to a mooring strap having loops at the ends with a lock mechanism to adjust the distance between the loops.

2. Description of Related Art

Since time immemorial, water borne vessels have been moored to docks with lines engaging a cleat, or the like, on the vessel and a cleat attached to the dock or a post formed as part of the dock. When two vessels are moored adjacent one another, lines are used to engage a cleat of one vessel with a cleat of another vessel. Usually, fenders are deployed intermediate the vessel and the dock or between two vessels to prevent abrading or damage causing contact therebetween.

Sometimes a vessel is moored between two pairs of posts. Again, lines are used to engage each post and a cleat or other fixed elements on the vessel.

All of these pre-existing procedures for mooring a vessel usually require readjustment of the respective lengths of the lines by repeated disengagement and re-engagement of the respective cleat and/or post. This procedure is time-consuming and may be enhanced by having two seamen working together to secure an appropriate length of line from the vessel.

Sometimes, the state of the water may suggest that a vessel be loosely moored to accommodate movement of the vessel due to wind and wave action. Again, the time-consuming readjustment of the lines is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mooring strap for a vessel having loops at the opposed ends for engaging respective cleats. A lock mechanism interconnects the strap extending from each loop to permit adjustment of the distance between the loops. A sleeve is slidably engaged with each loop to permit reducing the functional length of the loop about a cleat to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the loop from the cleat.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a mooring strap having loops at opposed ends and a lock mechanism for adjusting and maintaining the distance between the loops.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release cam lock for adjustably engaging straps extending from opposed loops of a mooring strap.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mooring strap having loops at opposed ends for engaging respective cleats mounted on a vessel and a dock or other vessel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve attendant each cleat engaging loop of a mooring strap to reduce the functional length of the loop and snug the loop about the respective cleat.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pair of straps having a loop at one end and a cam lock for engaging the other ends of the straps.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use and easily stowable mooring strap.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for rapidly and adjustably moor a vessel to a dock or other vessel.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates my mooring strap interconnecting a vessel with a dock;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of my mooring strap;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3, as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial view showing a sleeve translated toward a cleat; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a section of a line or rope useable as a substitute for the strap illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a representative dock 10 supported upon posts 12 anchored in the bottom below water 14. A conventional cleat 16 is attached to dock 10. The cleat may be attached to a board 18 of the dock or other robust member of the dock to serve an anchoring function for a moored vessel.

A water borne vessel 30, which may be a motorboat, sailboat, rowboat, etc. usually includes a number of cleats mounted on the deck of the vessel or upon the gunwhale. As shown in FIG. 1, cleat 32 is mounted upon gunwhale 34. These cleats may be used for any of a number of purposes, depending upon the type of vessel involved. Usually, one or more cleats are mounted on the deck or the gunwhale of the vessel to permit mooring of the vessel to a dock, other vessel, buoy or post extending from the water. Sometimes these cleats are also used to secure the line for an anchor.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a mooring strap 40 is used to moor vessel 30 to dock 10. The mooring strap engages cleat 32 of the vessel and with cleat 16 on the dock. It is understood that the tensile strength of the mooring strap is sufficient to accommodate the expected loads as a function of the size of the vessel and expected loads due to wind and wave action.

Referring jointly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, further details of mooring strap 40 will be described. The mooring strap includes a pair of straps 42, 44. A loop 46 is disposed at one end of strap 42. Free end 48 of strap 42 is lockedly engaged with a conventional cam lock 50, as particularly shown in FIG. 3. The cam lock includes a thumb operated ratchet 52 having teeth 54 engaging the surface of the free end and urging it against bracket or anvil 56. Any tension applied to strap 42 at loop 46 will cause the ratchet to more securely bind free end 48 against the anvil and prevent slippage.

Strap 44 includes a loop 60 at one end. A further loop 62, may encircle a cross member 64 of cam lock 50. A retention device(s) may be employed to secure either loop 62 or a free end of strap 44 to the retention device.

In operation, one of loops 46, 60 such as loop 46 shown in FIG. 4, engages a cleat as, such as cleat 16. To permit lateral movement of the vessel fore and aft as well as forward and away from the dock, it is critical that loop 46 not become inadvertently disengaged from the cleat as a result of such movement. To prevent such disengagement, a sleeve 70 encircling the strap and loop is slid toward the cleat to reduce the functional size of loop 46 to a size close to the girth of the upright element 72 (see also FIG. 1) of the cleat, as representatively shown in FIG. 4. Thereby, the functional size of loop 46 cannot extend to either of the opposed ends of the cleat and thereby result in disengagement of the loop from the cleat.

As shown in FIG. 2, a further sleeve 80 is juxtaposed with loop 60 of strap 44 to selectively reduce the functional size of this loop. As shown in FIG. 1, loop 60 may be used to engage cleat 32 of vessel 30 in the same manner as loop 46 engages cleat 16 mounted on dock 10.

Once the loops have been engaged with their respective cleats (or other anchoring elements), free end 48 of strap 42 is drawn to cause cam lock 50 to tighten mooring strap 40 between the two engaged elements.

To release mooring strap 40, ratchet 52 of cam lock 50 is rotated manually to permit disengagement between the ratchet and free end 48 of strap 42 and thereby loosen the mooring strap between the two engaged elements. Thereafter, sleeves 70 and 80 are slid away from their respective loops to increase the functional size of each of the loops and permit disengagement of the loops from a mooring element, such as the cleats illustrated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a representative length of line or rope of the type commonly used on recreational vessels. The purpose for this illustration is to indicate that mooring strap 40 may be made from a line or rope instead of being made from a strap. A cam lock, as shown, or other locking device may be used that is better suited to lockingly engage the free ends of the straps, ropes or combination thereof.

Even though the material of the straps used for mooring strap 40 may be of any width, thickness or tensile strength, such straps are usually quite flexible. This flexibility permits rolling of the strap about the cam lock into a disk-like configuration that is easily stowable on a vessel. For those less inclined to stow the mooring strap in a ship-shape configuration, it may be simply stuffed in a bag or other place of stowage. 

1. A mooring strap for mooring a vessel to a dock having a cleat for such purpose, said mooring strap comprising in combination: a) a first strap having a first loop at one end and a first free end; b) a second strap having a second loop at one end and a second free end; c) a cam lock for interconnecting said first free end and said second free end to set the distance between said first and second loops; d) a first sleeve slidably mounted at least in part along said first loop to change the functional size of said first loop; and, e) a second sleeve slidably mounted at least in part along said second loop to change the functional size of said second loop.
 2. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second free end is a loop permanently attached to said cam lock.
 3. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first free end is slidingly lockably engaged with said cam lock.
 4. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second free end is a loop permanently attached to said cam lock.
 5. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second straps are of webbing material.
 6. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second straps are of rope.
 7. A strap for adjustably drawing two elements toward one another, said strap comprising in combination: a) a first strap having a first loop at one end and a first free end; b) a second strap having a second loop at one end and a second free end; c) a first sleeve slidably engaged along said first loop to vary the functional size of said first loop; d) a second sleeve slidably engaged along said second loop to vary the functional size of said second loop; and e) an adjustable retention device for engaging said first and second free ends to adjust and set the distance between said first and second loops.
 8. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first free end is fixedly attached to said retention device.
 9. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second free end is selectively lockedly attached to said retention device.
 10. The strap as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first free end is fixedly attached to said retention device.
 11. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second straps are of webbing material.
 12. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second straps are of rope material. 